Amazon’s ‘On A Wing And A Prayer’: An Easter Miracle Is In The Air

A man, a woman and two teen girls in an airplane cockpit. — (L-R): Dennis Quaid, Abigail Rhyne, Jessi Case, Heather Graham, in ‘On a Wing and a Prayer’ on Amazon Prime Video/Credit: Courtesy_of_Prime_Video_Boris_Martin__AMAZON_CONTENT_SERVICES_LLC

On a Wing and a Prayer, which premiered April 7 on Amazon Prime Video, asks the following question:

So, you’re on a plane with your spouse and children, and the pilot dies. Whaddya gonna do? Your choices are: A, panic and die, or B, land the plane.

In this fact-inspired tale, Dennis Quaid (I Can Only Imagine, A Dog’s Journey) stars as Louisiana pharmacist Doug White. He’s had pilot training, but has never flown anything as big as the King Air twin-engine aircraft he’s traveling in on Easter Sunday, 2009, accompanied by his wife, Terri (Heather Graham), and teen daughters (Jessi Case, Abigail Rhyne).

A recent death in the family has shaken his faith — and he’s going to need to find it again to keep it together long enough to get the plane on the ground in Florida. But he doesn’t do it alone.

From Connecticut to Florida, a Telephone Chain Keeps the Plane in the Air

Florida air-traffic controller Dan (Rocky Myers) breaks all kinds of federal laws by placing a cellphone call to a former colleague in Connecticut, Kari Sorenson (Jesse Metcalfe), who knows King Air planes well.

With the help of his significant other, Ashley (Anna Enger Ritch), Kari relays instructions through Dan to Doug — who then must execute them, even in the teeth of an oncoming storm.

Since this movie comes out over Easter Weekend, one may safely assume that it doesn’t end in a fiery crash.

Directed by Sean McNamara (Soul Surfer, Sister Swap) and written by Brian Egeston, On a Wing and a Prayer is the kind of faith-forward, family-friendly, life-reaffirming film that doesn’t often land on a major streaming service.

But, it might have helped that Roma Downey is one of the producers, and her Lightworkers Media is one of the production partners. As she messaged me:

OAWAAP is so satisfying. I loved working on it and helping bring it to the screen, as it’s a true story . You’ll be at the edge of your seat as you watch, for it’s compelling and gripping and tense and dramatic yet touching and inspiring.

Together in the Film, But Not All Together

Produced during the era of COVID restrictions, the film’s structure also provided a challenge. For much of it, there’s Dan and his colleagues in the air-control tower, Doug and the family on the plane, and Kari and Ashley in a garage.

Director McNamara said he was able to get the whole team together for rehearsals. He even set up a cockpit in his office using chairs (something similar happens in the film, as Ashley builds a flight simulator out of stuff hanging around the garage).

A man on a cellphone. — Jesse Metcalfe in ‘On a Wing and a Prayer’ on Amazon Prime Video/Credit:Courtesy_of_Prime_Video_Boris_Martin_ AMAZON_CONTENT_SERVICES_LLC

I asked Metcalfe about that:

It can be challenging. I mean, that’s sort of one of the challenges of modern filmmaking. I mean, look at all the movies that are special-effects-driven movies where you’re acting in front of green screens. It’s basically the same thing.

You have to manufacture nearly everything in your head, and you’re shooting a lot of these scenes opposite the second AD reading your lines off-camera.

So I certainly was very pleasantly surprised when I finally viewed the film at Roma’s house and saw what great chemistry there was. And people make such a big deal about chemistry, don’t they?

A Rare All-Family-Viewing Choice

On a Wing and a Prayer isn’t high art, and secular audiences might find the faith aspect laid on a bit thick — on the other hand, many of them think any faith in a film is too much. But, it’s a rare film these days that’s actually suitable for children, teens and adults to watch together.

The adults are imperfect people dealing with issues in the past; the teens aren’t stupid or complete pains in the neck; and it’s true that deaths considered premature or unfair often shake faith.

It’s also pretty indisputable that the survival story of Doug and his family is, at minimum, highly unlikely, and at the outer edge, a downright miracle.

Said Metcalfe:

The movie’s a real thrill ride. We established the characters and get the audience to like these people, and engage with these people, and what they’re going through in their everyday lives.

Then we have this crazy action-packed thrill ride of getting this plane on the ground safely, and then we have this uplifting, inspiring ending. So it all really came together. Honestly, it’s the perfect movie for the holiday weekend.

Men and Women as a Team Rather Than Rivals

One thing I also liked was how the couples were portrayed. For the sake of dramatic storytelling, men and women in relationships are usually in conflict in films and TV, too often for no logical reason.

In On a Wing and a Prayer, Doug and Heather must work together in the cockpit to save themselves and their children. Up in Connecticut, Kari’s aircraft knowledge and Ashley’s inventiveness come together to allow him to talk Doug through what he needs to do.

I’d like to see more of this — men and women pooling their intelligence and resources to solve problems … you know, like they frequently do in life.